New York, NY, February 26, 2014 …The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed Governor Jan Brewer’s veto of legislation that would have been a harmful attack on civil rights. Arizona’s so-called “religious freedom” bill, driven by opponents of marriage equality, would have provided a legal defense to individuals and businesses who claimed that a “sincerely held religious belief” required them to discriminate.

We are pleased that Governor Brewer fulfilled her obligation to represent all of the people of Arizona. Her decision to veto legislation that would have sanctioned discrimination by citizens and businesses against individuals was the right one, and should serve as a guidepost for officials in other states where such pernicious legislation is being considered.

Regrettably, our nation has an odious history of using religion to justify discrimination. The bill that the Governor vetoed would have represented a toxic and harmful step backward, and would have stained Arizona’s reputation for years to come. As evidenced by the strong outcry from the business community, this legislation would have also done irreparable harm to Arizona’s economy.

ADL played a prominent role in the campaign to urge the Governor to veto it, and helped galvanize opposition in the business, civil rights and faith communities.

ADL is the world’s leading anti-hate organization. Founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of anti-Semitism and bigotry, its timeless mission is to protect the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all. Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of hate with the same vigor and passion. A global leader in exposing extremism, delivering anti-bias education, and fighting hate online, ADL is the first call when acts of anti-Semitism occur. ADL’s ultimate goal is a world in which no group or individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate.